Indigenous PM on the way: Mundine

MANY Australians don't expect to see an indigenous prime minister in their lifetime but an educational foundation hopes to change that.

About 90 per cent of the students granted scholarships by the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation finish year 12, and the AIEF on Tuesday announced its intention to put another 7,000 students through the program.

To do that, it will be raising $100 million to send those students to boarding schools around Australia.

Year 12 completion is one of the biggest obstacles to educational equality between indigenous and non-indigenous students in Australia, said AIEF CEO Andrew Penfold.

"If indigenous students can complete high school and go on to university and employment, anything is possible," he said.

It's a big ask to move students far from their hometowns to boarding schools on the opposite side of the country, admitted AIEF director and indigenous leader Warren Mundine.

"But if we're going to put them in an environment where success is seen as normal, if you're going to claw your way to the top, to the prime ministership or up the corporate ladder, then you need to step outside your boundaries and have a go," he told AAP.

With help from organisations like the AIEF A future indigenous prime minister isn't far off, Mr Mundine says.

"When I was a kid I never thought I'd see an indigenous doctor, I never thought I'd see Aboriginal lawyers. Never thought I'd see an indigenous judge, but I did," he said.

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